Stevens Johnsons Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is a severe allergic skin reaction caused by the use of various prescription and over the counter medications. Victims of SJS caused by the use of drugs that do not have proper warning signs regarding the known dangers of allergic reactions are entitled to compensation for their injuries via the filing of a product liability lawsuit against manufacturers and distributors. However claims must be filed within a specific time limit set by the jurisdiction where the case will be tried. Failure to file a claim within the statutorily limited time period can eliminate a victims legal right to recovery under the law.
Statute of Limitations: The statute of limitations for filing a product liability claims is based on the jurisdiction where the injury took place. For example in California an individual has a two year time period to file a personal injury claim in civil court, while residents of Maine have a six year deadline to file a lawsuit. A list of statute of limitations for all jurisdiction in the United States is provided below.
Exceptions to Filing Deadline: In certain instances court may grant a temporary halting or tolling of a statute thus allowing for a case to be filed even when the filing deadline has passed. Specific instances where courts have granted a tolling of a statute are as follows
- Physical incapacitation of the victim.
- Mental incapacitation of the victim.
- The injury did not manifest itself until sometime after the taking of the drug.
- The victim did not know the injury was caused by the use of the medication until a later time.
- Injured individual was under the age of 18 – for example in California a minor has two year from the date of his/her 18th birthday to file a claim.
Statute of Limitations for All Jurisdiction in the United States
Alabama
Alabama Statute of Limitations Ala. Code § 6-2-2 et seq.
Product liability Case: 2 Years
Alaska
Alaska Statute of Limitations Alaska Stat. § 09.10.010 et seq.
Product liability Case: 2 Years
Arizona
Arizona Statute of Limitations Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12-541 et seq.
Product liability Case: 2 Years
Arkansas
Arkansas Statute of Limitations Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-101 et seq.
Product liability Case: 3 Years
California
California Statute of Limitations Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 312 et seq.
Product liability Case: 2 Years
Colorado
Colorado Statute of Limitations can be found at Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-102 et seq.
Product liability Case: 2 Years
Connecticut
Connecticut Statute of Limitations Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 52-575 et seq.
Product liability Case: 2 Years
Washington D.C.
District of Columbia Statute of Limitations D.C. Code § 12-301 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
Florida
Florida Statute of Limitations Fla. Stat. Ann. § 95.011 et seq.
Product liability 4 Years
Georgia
Georgia Statute of Limitations Ga. Code Ann. § 9-3-20 et seq.
Product liability Case: 2 Years
Hawaii
Hawaii Statute of Limitations Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years with discovery rule
Idaho
Idaho Statute of Limitations Idaho Code § 5-201 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Illinois
Illinois Statute of Limitations 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-201 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Indiana
Indiana Statute of Limitations Ind. Code Ann. § 34-11-2-1 et seq.
Defective Product 2 Years
Iowa
Iowa Statute of Limitations Iowa Code Ann. § 614.1 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Kansas
Kansas Statute of Limitations Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-501 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Kentucky
Kentucky Statute of Limitations Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.080 et seq.
Product liability 1 Year with discovery rule
Louisiana
Louisiana Statute of Limitations La. Civil Code § 3492 et seq.
Product Defect 1 Year
Maine
Maine Statute of Limitations Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 751 et seq.
Product liability 6 Years
Maryland
Maryland Statute of Limitations Md. Courts & Jud. Proc. Code Ann. § 5-101 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Statute of Limitations Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 260, § 1 et seq.
Defective Product Lawsuit must be filed within 3 Years
Michigan
Michigan Statute of Limitations Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5801 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
Minnesota
Minnesota Statute of Limitations Minn. Stat. Ann. § 541.01 et seq.
Product liability 4 Years
Mississippi
Mississippi Statute of Limitations Miss. Code. Ann. § 15-1-1 et seq.
Product liability 2 Year
Missouri
Missouri Statute of Limitations Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.097 et seq.
Product liability 5 Years
Montana
Montana Statute of Limitations Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-2021 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
Nebraska
Nebraska Statute of Limitations Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-201 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Nevada
Nevada Statute of Limitations Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11.010 et seq.
Product liability 4 Years
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Statute of Limitations N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:1 et seq.
Product liability 3 Year
New Jersey
New Jersey Statute of Limitations N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2a:14-1 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
New Mexico
New Mexico Statute of Limitations N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-1 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
New York
New York Statute of Limitations N.Y. Civ. Prac. Laws & Rules § 201 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
North Carolina
North Carolina Statute of Limitations N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-46 et seq.
Product liability 6 Years
North Dakota
North Dakota Statute of Limitations N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-01 et seq.
Product Liability claim must be filed within 10 Years
Ohio
Ohio Statute of Limitations Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.03 et
Product liability 2 Years
Oklahoma
Ohio Statute of Limitations Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.03 et
Product liability 2 Years
Oregon
Ohio Statute of Limitations Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.03 et
Product liability 2 Years
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5501 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Statute of Limitations R. I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-12 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
South Carolina
South Carolina Statute of Limitations S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-510 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
South Dakota
South Dakota Statute of Limitations S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 15-2-1 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
Tennessee
Tennessee Statute of Limitations Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-101 et seq.
Product liability 1 Year with discovery rule
Texas
Texas Statute of Limitations Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Utah
Utah Statute of Limitations Utah Code Ann. § 78-12-22 et seq.
Product liability claim bust be filed within 2 Years
Vermont
Vermont Statute of Limitations Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 461 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
Virginia
Virginia Statute of Limitations Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-228 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Washington
Washington Statute of Limitations Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 4.16.005 et seq.
Product liability 3 Years
West Virginia
West Virginia Statute of Limitations W. Va. Code § 55-2-1 et seq.
Product liability 2 Years
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Statute of Limitations Wis. Stat. Ann. § 893.01 et seq.
Defective Product Claim must be filed within 3 Years
Wyoming
Wyoming Statute of Limitations Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-102 et seq.
Product liability 4 Year